Today's Newspaper

RBI to withdraw pre-2005 currency notes

Thursday, 23 January 2014 | PNS | Mumbai/New Delhi

0

In a move aimed at curbing black money and fake currency circulation within the country, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday decided to withdraw all currency notes issued prior to 2005, including Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations, after March 31, 2014.

“After March 31, 2014, it (RBI) will completely withdraw from circulation all bank notes issued prior to 2005. From April 1, 2014, the public will be required to approach banks for exchanging these notes,” the RBI said in a statement.

Pre-empting the general mood post the announcement, the RBI notification asked people not to panic and cooperate in the withdrawal process.

The public can easily distinguish the currency notes issued before 2005 as they do not have the year of printing on reverse side. The year of printing in a small font is visible at the middle of the bottom row in notes issued after 2005, the bank said.

It added that old notes will continue to be legal and can be exchanged in any bank after April 1, though from April 1, 2014, the public will be required to approach banks for exchanging these notes. Banks will provide exchange facility for these notes until further communication.

From July 1, 2014, persons seeking exchange of more than 10 pieces of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will have to furnish proof of identity and residence to the bank.

Although the RBI did not give any reason for the withdrawal of pre-2005 currency notes, the move is expected to unearth black money held in cash. As the new currency notes have added security features, they would help in curbing the menace of fake currency. At present, currency notes in denominations of Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 are issued.

The central bank had earlier discontinued printing of Rs 5 note, but reintroduced this denomination later to meet demand.

10 Dec 2016 | PNS | Lucknow

The Samajwadi Party's first family feud refuses to die down with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav appointing his trusted leiutent Javed Abdi as adviser of the Irrigation department. The CM's uncle Shivpal Yadav was the Irrigation minister till he was dismissed from the cabinet in October...